Prof Simon Jarvis' hoard of images were discovered on various devices from Robinson College, where he worked and had lodgings, and other locations in Cambridge, as well as a Tumblr account and a Yahoo chat log

A Cambridge University academic who admitted possessing and distributing almost 2,000 indecent images of children has been handed a suspended sentence.

Professor Simon Jarvis, 53, a poetry specialist based in the university’s English faculty, pleaded guilty to 12 allegations at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

The charges included four counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of distributing indecent images, five counts of possessing prohibiting images and one count of possessing extreme pornography.

Jarvis was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in September last year.

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The hoard of images were discovered on various devices from Robinson College, where he worked and had lodgings, and other locations in Cambridge, as well as a Tumblr account and a Yahoo chat log.

Prosecutor Mark Weakes said Jarvis, who lives in Cambridge, had a total of 1,961 indecent images of children as well as a few video clips.

He said: "There was evidence of file sharing and file wiping software.

"Further chat logs analysed in the case are exceptional and graphic in nature, showing paedophilic and child role play. Some 5,600 lines of chat were analysed by police."

In police interview, Jarvis said he had been searching the internet for indecent material involving young girls since 2000 – but said looking at material like this "made him feel worthless" and "not human".

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Jarvis said he first became interested in indecent material after seeing a nude nine-year-old girl on the beach when he was 27.

He admitted he was “ashamed and disgusted” by his behaviour.

Claire Matthews, mitigating, said Jarvis had suffered "entrenched demons" for years and had shown "complete remorse" in police interviews.

She said he had voluntarily taken a psychological examination, a ten-week rehabilitation course and installed software that monitored his internet use for "inappropriate" paedophilic language.

Cambridge Crown Court. Picture: David Johnson

Miss Matthews added: "His fall from grace has been a very public one but he has accepted it, his focus is on demonstrating his intention to address, understand and change his behaviour.

"He is a very proud man, he is a very emotional man and he has had to share this terrible secret with those who know him best."

Sentencing Jarvis at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, Judge David Farrell QC told Jarvis: "You are an intelligent man, a professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge, and as such in my judgement you must have known that by accessing and viewing indecent images of children you were indirectly encouraging the abuse of children.

"One image is one too many, because at the root of this is the abuse of children in order to provide others with images for their perverted sexual gratification."

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The judge said he went outside the sentencing guidelines to suspend Jarvis's jail term for two years as "there's a sufficient prospect of rehabilitation".

He said: "I see from all that I've read in this case that you have made real steps to address this addiction and therefore to prevent further offending in the future."

Referring to a psychological report on Jarvis, he said: "Treatment in prison is not usually available for those serving short or even medium custodial sentences.

"It already recognises that the need to prevent you from committing these type of offences by rehabilitating you is to be of benefit not just to you, but to the public in general and children in particular, because it means if this sort of behaviour is prevented then children are protected."

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Jarvis was handed a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to do up to 40 days of rehabilitation with the probation service.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, banning his access to the internet, electrical devices and contact with anyone under 18, except with police and parental consent.

Jarvis must comply with notification requirements with the police and the National Crime Agency for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay £670 towards the prosecution's costs.

Speaking after the sentencing, a spokeswoman for Cambridge University confirmed that Jarvis has been suspended from his post, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

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On conclusion of the court case, an NSPCC spokesman said: “Possessing and sharing indecent images of children is child abuse full stop, and Jarvis’ actions have fuelled an appalling trade in this material.

“We must never forget that vulnerable children have been seriously abused to create these images and behind every single one is a young victim who will need support to recover.”

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC’s helpline 24 hours a day on 0808 800 5000.